Noreen Kay Leaf-Papakee, 69, of Tama, passed away, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 12-3 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. A Traditional Wake will be held Wednesday evening at the Fox Clan Ceremonial Building on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama. Traditional Graveside Services will be held Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Meskwaki Cemetery on the Settlement with Luke Kapayou as speaker.

Noreen was born on October 11, 1952, on the Meskwaki Settlement in rural Tama, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Una (Davenport) Leaf.

She graduated from Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, SD and furthered her education with a Surgical Technician degree.

On July 13, 1997, she married Bernard Papakee in Des Moines, Iowa. Noreen loved to ride around in the car with family and friends. She also loved her cats, Callie and Minnie. Noreen liked to play Bingo and watch Westerns.

Survivors include her son, Lyndon Johnson of Des Moines; daughter, Natasha Papakee of Tama; granddaughters, Bailey Johnson and Cierra Jefferson; great-grandson, Chandler Jefferson; niece, Marsha Leaf of New Mexico; great nieces, Shannon, Alyssa, and KaitLyn; and adopted sisters and brothers.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Bernard on October 13, 2007; grandson, Sage Johnson; and three brothers, Ambrose, Linus, and Austin Leaf.